Made it to day 365 of 2019!
My birthday is October 30th so ever since I was little I was always looking forward to my 30th birthday. I wasn’t wishing I was 30, but always knew I would get there… so when I turned 30 I wasn’t shocked and like, “oh my gosh! I can’t believe I’m 30!” Like I was seeing from so many others.
Now, when I turned 31 I felt a little thrown off like, “Well, I was prepared for 30, but 31 came out of no where!” I know it sounds silly but I think that is how a lot of things in life are. You prepare for the wedding but what about the marriage? You prepare for birth but what about the 4th trimester? You prepare for having a plethora of learning tools and creating just the right environment for free play but what about the tantrums and meltdowns or the hangries!?! Everyone talks about the terrible twos but what about the stubborn threes?
I think we tend to get tunnel vision on the short term goals so when we hit them we’re kind of floundering on what happens next…
I hope you don’t misunderstand me. Short term goals are great! And when you hit them it’s invigorating and a time that should be celebrated! But I do think we need to see what our long term is. What is the ultimate goal? Because the ultimate goal is what directs our daily path.
My ultimate goal is to love my husband and show my children Jesus (to love like Him, serve like Him and take the time to spend time refreshing my soul like Him). To pray for my clients and help them to see how blessed they are (immediately and years from now) by using my talents that God has given me to share. To raise awareness of amazing causes and document those who might otherwise go unnoticed.

I see much, I feel deeply and I am fully aware of the limited time I have, so I want to make the most of it.

The lessons I learned walking through 2019?

I have to be truthful here… I was this close and I mean this ** close to just saying, “I’m done”. I was feeling pulled in too many directions. I was ready to close the doors on Alaina Nunez Photography once I was done with current obligations.

I was asking God to show me if this business should continue and if so what direction He wants it to go in.

I don’t want to give my leftovers… My children don’t deserve my leftovers, my clients don’t deserve my leftovers and my husband for sure doesn’t deserve my leftovers! I am not a perfectionist but I am definitely one who carries high expectations for myself.

This past year has been the slowest year I’ve had in a long time. Being an artist, I’m pretty accustom to the wave of clients that come throughout the year but after awhile it can be demotivating and super discouraging.

December came and I felt this renewed vision. I was asking God to show me if this business should continue and if so what direction He wants it to go in.

My kids and I have these great conversations one the couch at least once a week. I think I’m impacted by them more than they are but even if they just hold onto snippets of these moments I know the memories of these conversations will come to mind at the moments they will need them. We were talking recently about why it’s important to have respect for yourself. The main consensus was, “Because if you don’t, no one else will.” I said well… You can’t control what other people say and do but you can control what you say and do. So then I repeated my question, “Why is it important to have respect for yourself?” They couldn’t think of anything other than trying to reword their first answer. I told them, when God created you, He didn’t just speak and you were there like everything else He created. No, He took care to “weave” you together with your hair color, eye color, gender, skin color, character traits, strengths and weaknesses. You are created in the image of the Almighty. You are created to do mighty things even in your weaknesses. If you respect the Creator then you will have respect for the created and be in awe of it. You are created to do amazing and mighty things because the Almighty made you. If that doesn’t deserve respect, I don’t know what does.

So with that, I have an appreciation for the 2019 business blight. It was a good year of emotional and spiritual growth. Pouring into myself, my marriage, my family and the clients and students that I was pleased to be with.

My husband is my life partner and now will be my business partner. I’m pretty excited about that!

So 2020… I won’t be floundering when the clock strikes midnight or when I wake up tomorrow to celebrate “Nunez Day” with my family (I’ve told you about Nunez Day right?). I’m ready. I’m ready to see the sights and enjoy the company. And when I don’t know which turn to make… I know Who to ask for directions.

Alaina Nunez is the professional photographer who specializes in documenting unforgettable moments in an organic and documentary way. Home is in sunny Southern California with her husband and 6 children. They love road trips so if you’re not in the area and looking to have Alaina document your family or intimate wedding Contact her about her travel schedule.